The intensity of anti-Orange material in much of the media
in the aftermath of the Whiterock violence was ferocious.
Much of it was from predictable quarters, but it was still
hard to take, as most of it as far as the Orange Institution
was concerned, was ill-informed and inaccurate.
In many instances it amounted to downright lies, and these
were not always corrected.
The Talkback programme on BBC Radio Ulster was bombarded
with contributions from enemies of the Orange Order, and also
from so-called 'moderate' critics.
When criticism was justified, it had to be acknowledged,
and one has to accept the very good case presented by the
Rev. Alan McCann, the highly respected Lurgan-born minister.
Mr. McCann pulled no punches, reminding listeners of what
the Orange Order is all about, and the need for Orangemen
and all connected with the Order to witness in the right way
for Protestantism.
No-one could quarrel with his analysis. But there were others
whose contempt and hatred for the Orange Order came through
loud and clear.
An even stronger case could have been made. It is a fact
that the Orange Order has no laws barring anyone of any race
or colour from its membership - the one necessity is that
an applicant must be a Protestant.
Anyone with any knowledge of the Orange Order would know
that there are over a dozen Orange Lodges in Togo and Ghana,
and there are Lodges in Canada comprised of First Nations
people - members of the Red Indian community.
But then, of course, republicans with an anti-Orange agenda
would not be interested in the facts - they prefer lying propaganda.
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